241 And Balaam seeth that 'it is' good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he hath not gone as time by time to meet enchantments, and he setteth towards the wilderness his face; 2 and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him, 3 and he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor—And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut— 4 An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God—Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling—and eyes uncovered: 5 How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel; 6 As valleys they have been stretched out, As gardens by a river; As aloes Jehovah hath planted, As cedars by waters; 7 He maketh water flow from his buckets, And his seed 'is' in many waters; And higher than Agag 'is' his king, And exalted is his kingdom. 8 God is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And 'with' his arrows he smiteth, 9 He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee 'is' blessed, And he who is cursing thee 'is' cursed.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 24:1-9
Commentary on Numbers 24:1-9
(Read Numbers 24:1-9)
Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbour. Their fruitfulness and increase. Their honour and advancement. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when at rest, because God maketh them to dwell in safety. Their influence upon their neighbours. God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to himself.